OCR Text |
Show LEWISTON. Lewiston is coming to the front this year. This settlement has one of the finest sections of farming land in the valley; besides being rich soil it is so level that farming machinery may be employed to the very best advantage. There are several thousands of acres of such land situated partly in Utah and some in Idaho, which can, by irrigation, be brought into successful cultivation. The irrigation, too, is comparatively easy to manage, owing to the fact that the ground does not have to be flooded, which is the case with most of the land in Utah. The water will soak from a ditch for a distance of forty rods or more supplying vegetation with all the moisture required. In the year 1877, the settlers spent some thousands of dollars in making a canal for bringing water from Cub River; this was a somewhat difficult work owing to the fact that the ditch had to be dug along the brink of a sand bank in order to reach the level. This was brought into successful operation however in 1878, or rather during a portion of the season for irrigating in that year. Owing to the long distance the water had to run, and almost on a level, a great portion of it was absorbed by the dry land before reaching its destination; hence the supply was found somewhat inadequate to the wants of the large farms. An eagerness to obtain more water led some thoughtless person or persons to fill the ditch beyond its capacity; the result was a great washout in the sand bank before mentioned. From that time to the present year, the land has lain dormant; and the owners have labored on the railroad or elsewhere for livelihood. Though the repairing of the canal or making a new one was frequently agitated nothing was done in regard to it until the past spring, when several thousand dollars in labor were spent by the settlers in repairing the old ditch. The work, which has recently been completed is a source of satisfaction to the people of the ward. A large stream of water is now running upon their land, and with economy it will meet the requirements for this year. Bishop Wm. (William) H. Lewis is deserving of credit for his exertion towards accomplishing this object. It would not be remiss to here make a suggestion. Would it not be a good idea for the landowners in this section to dispose of a portion of such property at reasonable rates to industrious people who are wanting to obtain farms. Men who will hold a larger piece of land than they can successfully cultivate, to the exclusion of others, are blinded to their own interests; for by the settling and building up of a community, real estate is greatly increased in value, and twenty acres will then be worth more than acres where the monopoly principle still holds sway. The expression "land poor," is applicable to Lewiston as well as other parts of the valley. |